Trump means business.
In a bold move to reform the federal education system, Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed that the Trump administration is taking steps toward eliminating the Department of Education, a long-held objective of President Trump since his campaign days. Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, McMahon stated, “This is the president’s directive. He has asked me to take the necessary steps to shut down the Department of Education, but we know that it will require cooperation with Congress to fully achieve this goal.”
The Trump administration’s first significant action was to implement massive workforce reductions, eliminating approximately half of the department’s staff, or 1,315 employees. After these layoffs, the department will retain around 2,183 employees. While these changes are drastic, McMahon emphasized that essential services, such as financial aid, support for students with disabilities, civil rights investigations, and state funding, would not be affected. The layoffs were focused on streamlining operations and eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic layers.
McMahon reassured the public that the reforms would ultimately improve education by reducing the red tape that hinders effective policymaking. “By removing the bureaucratic barriers, we’re empowering parents to make better educational choices for their children,” she said. She stressed that the administration’s focus is on shifting more control back to local communities, where education decisions are closest to the students and their families.
While this move is a part of President Trump’s larger agenda to reduce the federal government’s role in education, it’s clear that such a shift will not come without challenges. Education advocates have already begun preparing legal actions and public campaigns to defend the department. McMahon, however, remains confident, insisting that while the department may be dismantled, the administration will ensure funding continues to flow to schools, ensuring that students’ needs are met.
In McMahon’s vision, the elimination of the Department of Education will create a more efficient, localized system where state and local governments can take the lead in providing a better education to their communities. She emphasized that the reform would result in improved test scores and stronger student outcomes, backed by the support and involvement of parents, local school boards, and superintendents. Ultimately, this effort is part of a broader strategy to reduce wasteful federal spending and bring power back to the people.